The Lamborghini Ankonian concept car is based on a design by Slavche Tanevski, a member of the Lamborghini Raw Materials Project. The Ankonian is named after a famous black haired bull, continuing the Lamborghini tradition of bovine recognition.

In a deviation from the usual styling cues found in supercars, the Ankonian is a bit downsized, with a cab backward design reminiscent of grand touring vehicles. The supercar vibe of the design was created via a combination of soft and angular lines. Taking cues from the Reventon, the aim of the design is to be aggressive and elegant at the same time. In an aim to be more environmentally responsible, the design is scaled down to be more compact.

Taking approximately 6 months to develop, the design was created with the use of clay modeling over the newer CAD modeling method. The length of the time committed to this project, in addition to the cooperation of designers from Audi and Lamborghini, ensured that this car comes out with a fully matured and polished design. The lights are placed in areas one wouldn’t normally expect, contributing to the extreme appearance of the car, regardless if the car is viewed from the front or back.

If a person is given a chance to choose what kind of gift he or she wants, one of them would undoubtedly choose a car. Of course, it would not be just any kind of car, but it would have to be a luxury class for the whole family. When the word “luxury” comes up, you will not find an adjective in the dictionary better than Audi. Their specialty may actually be luxury cars, but they have a classic model called the Audi A6 Wagon.

Performance

The 2010 Audi A6 Wagon is currently available in one trim called the 3.0T Avant AWD V6. It possesses a V6 engine that is capable of up to 300 horsepower with the Quattro all-wheel drive system. It has LED running lights suited for daytime use. On the inside, the Audi A6 Wagon has a four-spoke multi-function steering wheel and the new Multi Media Interface system with voice control. It has twelve-way power heated front seats that have leather surfaces. It has Bluetooth connectivity for cellular phones and a Homelink function. The car can also be purchased with an optional Audi side assist. Aside from the Quattro all-wheel drive, it has other safety features like an ESP, a rearview camera.

Overall performance, the Audi A6 wagon drives well, paralleling even the newer models in the same class. It has formidable grip, agility, handling dynamics, and maneuverability. The breaks are also tailored to pull out short and smooth stops easily and quietly.

Exterior & Interior

The exterior design of this wagon, the manufacturers did a good job by making it look unique in a good way. Its general shape, curves, corners and lines make it one of the most stylish wagons of all the leading brands. The interior is very beautiful as well with its comfy seats, fine details and high-quality finish. The interior cabin was made with high-quality materials for sturdiness and functionality.

However, the Multi Media Interface puts the vehicle down a notch because it only makes the controls a lot more confusing and complicated.

Safety

The safety of the vehicle is very reassuring, earning the best possible rating from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. This was made possible because of the inclusion of a set of dual-stage front, side, and knee airbags, a Lane Assist function for safe lane changes, a Side Assist to monitor blind spots, and the Quattro all-wheel drive system for comfortable and secure handling. The car may also disappoint some users because of the reliability, which was based on initial quality and dependability tests. It only comes with a four-year or 50000-mile warranty and free 24-hour road assistance for four years.

Competition

Just in case the purchaser would want a different yet similar alternative, then there are other vehicles to choose from. The Avant A6 Wagon may seem unaffordable for a few people. In case that happens, one likely alternative would be the Audi A4 Avant, which is almost similar in style and performance with the A6 Wagon. The BMW 3-Series Sports Wagon (MSRP $37,150; 17 city / 27 hwy) is also a good line to choose from, but its better handling and performance would only mean more money.

Pros & Cons

The 2010 A6 Wagon may have its own set of disadvantages like its untested performance and its confusing Multi Media Interface system, but rest assured that it has other prominent features like its attractive exterior design and construction, spot-on space partitions, huge range of safety functions and features, high quality materials, finely-crafted details and sophisticated wagon look.

Overall Rating
78 out of 100

What others say:

“As a four-door sedan or five-door Avant wagon, the Audi A6 still has a svelte shape with relatively little fuss-from the side and rear, that is.”Car Connection

“The 3.0T furnishes fine acceleration in any situation, displaying none of the low-speed throttle lag that plagues some other Audi products. Its transmission is prompt and alert.”Consumer Guide

“Finely finished interior, all-wheel drive available across the lineup, strong supercharged V6, good fuel economy from base engine.”Edmunds

Specifications

For those of you unfamiliar with the Tiguan, this is Volkswagen’s compact SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). The first model was officially introduced to the US during the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2007 and made its market launch, the following year. And in this New Year, the Tiguan has undergone minor makeover as it features a new grille and eliminated its Wolfsburg Edition trim level. It may be a bit pricy for its category, however, the distinct European qualities- fine interior and attractive exterior are what you get. And this Volkswagen’s compact SUV boasts high quality materials that are almost similar to the famous top of the line SUV brands such as Audi.

The 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan has three different trims. The first is the S trim which comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, full power accessories, linen upholstery, eight way manually adjustable front seats, Bluetooth and CD player with eight speaker sound system. The second type is the SE model which features bigger wheels at 17-inch, fog-lights, enhanced chrome exterior trim, leatherette vinyl upholstery, upgraded entertainment system such as touch screen stereo with satellite radio and an iPod interface.

If you avail the SE’s Sunroof and Navigation package, you will also get better sized wheels at 18 inches. And for the SEL trim, aside from the same features as in S and SE trims, rain sensing wipers, dual zone automatic climate control, keyless ignition, leather upholstery, ambient interior lighting, 12 way power driver seat with memory and parking assist program are included. And the more advanced SEL 4Motion with Premium Navigation and Dynaudio features a reliable rearview camera and an eight speaker sound system. Trailer hitch, 19-inch wheels, a ground – effects kit of body pieces and side steps are also available and can be used for any Tiguan unit. But regardless of the trim levels, the Tiguan has a reclining backrest and 60/40-split-folding rear seat which features a cargo pass-through in the middle, making it capable of carrying cargo and accommodating passengers at the same time.

Performance

Adding substantially to the Tiguan is a turbocharged 2.0 liter inline-4 that pumps out 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque and then mated to either six speed manual transmission (which is standard on S type Tiguan) or six speed automatic transmission (which is optional on S-trim but common to both SE and SEL models) with Tiptronic. Surprisingly, according to its manufacturer, zero to sixty miles per hour comes in more or less eight seconds. In short, it provides decent acceleration and highway cruising while improving fuel efficiency. And if the engine performance will be further improved, this Volkswagen compact SUV is expected to outrank its popular rivals.

Safety

With its safety features such as antilock disc brakes, height-adjustable telescoping steering wheel, traction and stability control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags, the Tiguan gained a perfect score in all front and side crash categories in the government crash testing and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety included it in their “Top Safety Picks”. The Tiguan also has a basic three-year/36,000-mile warranty.

Competition

However, with its poor fuel economy ratings and need for premium fuel, some consumers are considering the Hyundai Tucson (MSRP $18,895; 20 city / 27 hwy) and Toyota RAV4 (MSRP $22,475; 22 city / 28 hwy) as their alternatives. And the Honda CR-V (MSRP $21,895; 21 city / 28 hwy) and Toyota RAV-4 also exceed the cargo capacity of the Tiguan. While the CR-V can hold 72.9 cubic feet of load, the Tiguan can only accommodate 56.1 cubic feet of stuff.

Pros & Cons

Any vehicle will always have its pros and cons. The 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan is considered as a safe family vehicle for it was awarded a full five star ratings in all front and side crash categories. Moreover, the performance of its powerful turbocharged engine is also impressive, even over rough roads. On the downside, although it has high quality cabin with versatile rear seats, it still provides lesser cargo space, compared to the competitors in its class. It is also expensive since it requires premium fuel.

Overall Rating
78 out of 100

What others say:

“The 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan feels refined and sophisticated, but it’s not especially rewarding to drive.”Car Connection

“In most situations Tiguan has ample power, but some turbo lag is noticeable–particularly when exiting a slow corner. The manual transmission has smooth shift and clutch action. The automatic shifts promptly in automatic or manual mode.”Consumer Guide

“The Tiguan’s styling cues place it somewhere between the larger VW Touareg SUV and smaller VW Golf hatchback.”Edmunds

Specifications

A fleet of cats’ convoys across London to the Motorexpo in Canary Wharf this 2011, and it’s dubbed the Jaguar E-Type 50th Anniversary Convoy. This procession is put together by the Jaguar Drivers’ Club with police escort to the venue.

Composed of privately owned vehicles, the journey begins in Forbes SMMT. The route took them from Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square before they line up the cars for exhibition at the Canary Wharf. Nigel Mansell, the ex-Formula One world champion was present and led the parade to the site.

The E-Type was an instant hit when it first debut in 1963 in the Geneva Motor Show, with its advance engineering and bold design. It could also reach a top speed of 150 mph, creating a phenomenon that marked its position among sports car enthusiasts around the world.

The car has reached its destination, flock of people arriving by the minute admiring the very curve of the body and marveling its engine. The long standing age of the E-Type sprung out new models with its new incarnation – the XF, XK and the XJ models. And, its new flag ship model, which will be Jaguar’s fastest production car ever built to date – the 550 PS XKR-S.

The Audi RS 4 is one of those cars: humble but with swag. Actually, humble may not be quite the word but low-key is, probably. If you are looking for a great performance from a four door sedan, then the Audi RS 4 is for you. It delivers a magnificent powerful performance from a sport sedan. With speed, comfort, and efficiency, this is indeed one of the best cars in the market.

Performance

The Audi RS 4 is heavy. Tipping at 4000 lbs (two tons) at the scales, it’s one of the heaviest vehicles in its class, making it a burden for its engine. However, the design is modified for this model. The previous Quattro cars’ designs had been remodeled by having aluminum front wings. The placement of the V8 engine also affects the steering feel and weight distribution because it is set over the front axle. Good thing that the Dynamic Ride Control System links the front and rear dampers.

This allows more flexibility from the front and rear dampers when both are compressed at the same time. This ensures a smooth ride while maintaining an edgy performance drive. In test drives, the Audi RS 4 reached 60 mph in 4.3 seconds which proves that the acceleration of this car is explosive. The shifts prove to be fast and smooth and the broad torque makes sure that the power to accelerate is always there.

The power it generates is massive, especially for a four door sedan. The ride is smooth and luxurious, thanks to the car’s all wheel drive system. The seating is elegant and ergonomic, making sure that you would not have to endure discomfort during a ride.

The Audi RS 4 is a revamped cousin of the Audi S4 that was marketed in America in 2006 to 2008. This Audi RS 4 had been sold between 2007 and 2008 and is an upgrade with a higher output V8 engine, specific suspension and Dynamic Ride control. It has modified all wheel drive components and powerful brakes. It also comes with special 19 inch tires.

Exterior & interior

The exterior of the car is good, subtle with aggressive edges, it has a spoiler and flared fenders that indicate how this car can turn into a speed demon on the road.

The interior features of this car is also smashing, with heated leather seats, automatic climate control and the seats are designed so well that it feels great without you getting all drowned with all the leather. It is not opulent though, but you can still feel the quality and the sleekness of the materials and design of the seats. The interior design of the car is also intuitive, making it very user friendly.

The bad news for the Audi RS 4 is that the rear seats are tight. They appear to have been made for children. The Audi RS 4 is also very limited as it was only sold for two years. It is very hard to find in the market, which is quite puzzling because it is a good car and it has a very good reselling value. However, if you are patient, you can always look for a used Audi RS 4. Yes, it is worth waiting for regardless of the price.

Competition

This car was made as an answer to BMW’s M3 (MSRP $38,500; 14 city / 20 hwy). Audi RS 4 wins this round. The Audi RS 4 has a 4.2 liter V8 engine and the BMW M3’s 3.2 liter six cylinder engine pales in comparison with 420 and 343 horsepower each, respectively.

Overall Rating
86 out of 100

What others say:

“The 2008 Audi RS4 arrives on the scene with tons of class—and a little less flash than its hot-blooded personality could justify.”Car Connection

“Superb ride and handling balance, world-class engine, robust brakes, supportive seats.”Edmunds

“The DRC suspension, which controls pitch and roll via fluid transfer between diagonally-connected dampers that share a central reservoir, makes the RS 4 feel incredibly balanced no matter the speed or road conditions.”KBB

Specifications